Egg handling machine



y 1953 V R. C.'SNEED ET'AL 2,639,801

EGG HANDLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1948 a Shee t-Sheet 1 ,FEEGEQ- INVENTORS Bauer 6'. .i/vzza- BY 60:27 5. Jenny M ATTORNEYS May 26, 1953 R. c. SNEED El'Al. 2,

I EGG HANDLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1948 s She ets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR5 E0556? 6 51/529 Cuzm .5. Jam

A'rrnusvs May 26, 1953 R. c. SNEED ETAL 2,639,301

7 EGG HANDLING MACHINE Filed Sept 25, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 as .3612 4 45678 a m: n :3 mm

n l2 |2 45678 8 I0 I l2 1 2 31 WE I fl fi/j U F'IEi-E- ,F

ATTORNEYS May 26, 1953 R. c. SNEED ETA]. 2,639,801

EGG HANDLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1948 e Sheets-Sheet s f v FIE. 1E

' INVENTORJ in! 6' 5mm BYM @2677: 5 Jneww ATTORNEYS y 6, 1953 R. c. SNEED ET AL 2,639,801

EGG HANDLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 w 14 w 37 w w //7 F'lEi-IEI FIE-1B- FIEi- EIIII I INVENTORS Eauer 6. .fA/iza BY Curr/j J, Jam/w 544 ATTORNEYS Patented May 26, 1953 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE EGG HANDLING MACHINE I Robert C. Sneed, Piedmont, and Curtis S. Jordan, Maywood, Califi, assignors to Safeway Stores, A Incorporated, Oakland, Calif.,' a corporation of Maryland 3 Claims.

This invention relates to egg handling machines and is concerned more particularly with machines of this character which are used to facilitate candling and packaging and counting of eggs and the removal of the packaged eggs. This application is a continuation in part of our copending application, Serial No. 599910, filed June 16, 1945, for an Egg Handling Machine.

In the marketing of eggs it is customary to perform a quality grading operation as by candling and to package the eggs in appropriate numbers in containers, for example, by the dozen or the three dozen. In performing this operation it is desirable to handle a large number of eg s in a way in which a minimum of effort is required on the part of the operator or operators performing the various grading and packaging operations.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved machine which facilitates packaging of the eggs.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved egg handling equipment including means providing a convenient arrangement of egg receiving cartons at a packaging station.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved egg handling equipment including means for carrying away cartons of eggs when the same have been filled.

Other objects or advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the egg handling equipment.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the machine illustrating the arrangement of the candling and packaging station.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view of one of the carton feed mechanisms at the packaging station.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the lines 4-4 in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of a carton holding rack and an associated counter at the packaging station.

Figure 6 is a sectional View of the mechanism shown in Figure 5 as indicated by the lines; 6-6 therein.

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing a modified arrangement of the carton holder in automatically counting the eggs placed in the carton.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of Figure '7 taken as indicated by the line 8-8 in Figure '7.

' Figure 9 is an'elevational view of a hQlder for 2 a carton adapted to contain a dozen eggs 'at the packaging station of the machine.

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the holder shown in Figure 9 as indicated by the line Ill-40 therein.

Figure 11 is an elevational view of a modifi holder for a carton adapted to contain thirty-six Figure 12 is an elevational view partly in section of the holder shown in Figure 11 and taken as indicated by the line l2-l2 in Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a schematic plan view showing the arrangement of the various counting devices at the packaging station.

Figure 14 is a plan view of one of the counting devices and its related parts.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary detailed view similar to Figure l4 s howing' th'e position of the parts for countingeggs in lots of a dozen.

Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 15 showing the position of the parts for counting eggs in lots of three dozen. I

Figure 17 is an elevational view partly in section of the countingdevice shown inFigure 14 as indicated by the line l'l'll therein.

Figure 18 is another view of the counting mechanism shown as indicated by the line l8-l 8 in Figure 14 with the parts positioned for automatic counting.

Figure 19 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the counting device as indicated by the line l9-|9 in Figure 14 with the parts positioned for manual counting of individual eggs.

Figure 20 is a detailed view of the counting drum.

As explained briefly above, the egg handling machine or this invention is designed to have eggs fed to a candlin'g and packaging station where the operator performs the quality grading operation and places'the eggs in appropriately labeled cartons of one ormore sizes. Referring touFigures 1 and 2, the apparatus includes a candling andpackaging station and apparatus I 0 to which the eggsiare'fed-from the grading apparatus II which may be of the type shown in our copending application Serial-No. 599,910 filed June 16, 1945,'for an Egg Handling Machine.

As the eggs are delivered to the candling and packaging station [0 they are deposited in a bin l2 (Figures 1 and 2) supported by legs l3. A candling lamp I4 is provided above the bin l2.

The station l0 includes anupright frame l6 which is divided at the top by vertical partitions ll into a plurality of-egg carton holding chambers l8 which terminate in a horizontal shelf or ledge 19 above a plurality of packaging stations. As shown in Figure 2, there are three rows of packaging stations, one being the row 2i overlying shelf 22, the second being the row 23 overlying shelf 24, and the third or lowermost being the row 26 overlying the .lowermost'rshelf 21. As: seen in Figures 1 and '2 a plurality of conveyors 28, 29 and 3! are associated with the respective shelves 22, 24 and 21 so that filled cartons may,

be removed by these conveyors in a manner later to be described. The carton chambers l8, illustrated more clearly as touog cartons -adapted to accommodate twelve eggsrin :Fi guresl, 131and 14, are provided with a back wallatzwithin-which the cartons are placed, the lowermost carton engaging and being retained by. aledge. 19, (Figure 4) with the lid portions of the cartons extending in overlapping fashion adjacent the wall ,32. The hinged feed door 33 (Figure 1) is provided for receiving stacks of cantons adapted to accommodate either a-dozen-eggs or three .dozeneggs and feeding them intothe chamber or chute-.18. A friction retaining (device is provided for the cartons on the ledge IS, with exception of .the lowermost carton, consisting of a rectangular frame "34ipivoted at 3.6 "and having. atits upper edge a pressure bar 31 which engages the fifth carton from the-bo-ttom- :under the influence; of spring '38-sothat-:azlbof thezcarton lids, except that of the lowermostrcartonwhich terminates at': 39,1 .ane -i subject to pressure .of the spring by virtueao-f the g overlapping relation of the lids. The lid second from the bottom terminates at 4! as indicated in Figure-4. Aftenpulling out or removing the lowermost carton 42 the operator can move the releasing frame 34 abouttfi'tol allow the cartons to slide down-and feed the next one into the lowermost,positionadjacent the ledge I9.

il romthe foregoing it isiobvious that. we have provided a plurality of carton holding chambers *8 which are adapted to retain .a substantial quantity ofaegg cartons, -either cartons adapted to accommodate thirty-six eggs or cartons 1 adapted" to "accommodate twelve eggs. .Our design is universal in'thatt all of. the-carton holding chambers l8 and the :associated frictional retaining devices are adapted to accommodate and operate qinconnection with cartons of either size. :By "utilizing the combination of carton holding chambers l8 "and frictional retaining devices, the operat'orimay withdraw the lowermostcarton; regardless of itssize, from theproper carton holding chamber [8 for future dispositionof the same, without bringing down the entire-stack of similar cartons. Bysimplyapplying slight pressure to the friction retainingdevice 3$; the pressure bar -.31 .disengagesv itself from the remaining cartons allowing the same to drop 'downwardly until the lowermost carton engages the horizontalsheft or ledge l9. which prohibits further downward movement. ,At that time the cartonszare again. in position for. subsequent removal of .thelowermost carton. v

As has. previously.v been. pointed out, certain of the carton holding members' l8 are employed for holding a desired supply of egg cartons designed to accommodate thirty-six eggs. The. .carton holders in the row 2|.are .of the type for receiving these cartonsas illustrated at. 43- inFigures .5 andfiand comprise anL-shaped frame 44 hinged at ie-on the front wall 4'! of the shelf 22 and normallysupported in inclined position above .the belt 28. The frame- 44 includes supporting strap 4 48 and a pair of spaced apart carton supporting arms including an angle arm 49 and a strip arm 5|. After the carton 43 is full, if the frame 44 is turned clockwise as viewed in Figure 6 against the tension of spring 52, the bottom of the carton 443 will be engaged with the belt 28 so that the canton-will be automatically-removed from the Iholdenframe QM.

It will be noted that when the frame M is pivoted about the point 46, the bottom side of members 49 and 5| engage the upper surface of the shelf 22 on either side of the belt 28. The belt It should the frame Jldris'tprovided with only one vertical side member whereby the carton therewithin may be simply slid off the members 49 and 5| by reason of the action of the belt 28.

The next packing row." or station 23 is adapted for ,useeitherwith .caritonssadapted to contain thirty=sb 4 eggs or cartons adapted v.to.contain .twelve eg -gs to .perform, automatically, counting. operationsinia manner. later tobedescribed. .The shelfiz-dhofthis row (Figuresfl and 8) maybe equipped with a depending frame angle 53 having .a supporting bracket extendingdownwardly therefrom. .An....L-shaped supporting .bell crank 56 .is pivoted. at .51 on the bracket .54 .to provide. .a. support for .a..movable carton bracket 5.8 generally. similar to..the..bracket or-holder 34 and having..a.support..arm-59 releasably: engaged with pinsv 6 I. on -thezbell crank 56. The bellcrank.56 isurged counterclockwise by. the-spring 6,2to maintainf thecarton holder 58 l and the carton 43 .in. the .inclined position shown. in Figure .8. ..In.this,position. the contact operatingapinlfiionthe bellcrank .56 is spaced from=-the contact assembly "fidisecured. on the angle bracket 53 and adaptedtobe operated by the .bell .crank 58 .upon clockwise movement thereof to close-amounting. circuit through the leads 66 in amanner. laterto be'descr-ibed.

It wi1l,.of. course-bekeptinmind that, inaddition to providingv convenient members for holding=the cartonsdn which theeggs are tov be packed, thedevicelis alsoadapted toperform automatically counting operations depending uponthe number of.e ggs in..the cartons counted.

For--use with cartons adapted to. contain twelve eggs,l.the-packing. row. or..'station' 23 is provided with a shelf- 24 whichcarries. a pair of supporting ledgesfi'l adaptedto-receive an associated pair of supporting bars' 68 of..an auxiliary carton .plate .69 adapted for abutting engagement with the edge ..of the. shelf 'N with supporting bars 68 extending beneath the shelf 24 in engagement with the ledges .61. .Also,..a pairof similar insulated contact strips "H are. provided on the carton plate '69 to engage between correspondingpairs of insulated .carton strips 72 on the shelf 24. Contact strips "H are electrically connected to a switch 13 having a trip armprojecting upwardy through theplate 69. Suitable leads extend from the pairs of. strips "E2 to a counter. ,Acarton 42 adapted'to contain a dozen eggscan. be supported as shown in Figure 10 while the eggs are being inserted therein with the contact trip arm. disposed. for operation by the carton 42 Whenit is slid rearwardlyafter filling onto the discharge conveyor 29.

In other words, if the cartonto' be packed is adapted to contain .a dozen eggs it visset forwardly upon..the membersJfiQ' in such a manner that. itoverlies .the. contact .arm .14. "When the carton has been packed and the operator wishes to dispose of the samehe merely pushes it rearwardly, or to the right as viewed in Figure 10, at which time the carton engages the contact arm I4 actuating the counter in a manner to be presently described. Continued movement of the carton 42 will ultimately place the same in contact with and upon the moving belt 29. The moving belt 29 will transport the carton Iz to another station in much the same manner as has v previously been explained in connection with the removal of cartons adapted to contain thirty-six eggs by the action of the belt 28.

A modified form of a holder adapted to be used in connection with a carton adapted to hold thirty-six eggs is shown in Figures 11 and 12 wherein the carton frame I6 is'mounted on upright arm 71 slidably carried in bracket I8 on the shelf 21 and urged upwardly by spring I9. Upon filling of the carton the holder I6 can be depressed until the carton is engaged by the conveyor 3| and fed out of the holder I0. Respective carton stops III are provided with conveyors 28 and 3| to hold the cartons until they are removed therefrom.

As described above therefore, the package carry away portion includes a row 2| of packaging stations overlying shelf 22, a second row 23 of packaging stations over a shelf 24, and a third row 26 of packaging stations over a lowermost shelf 21. The moving belt conveyors 28, 29 and 3| which are associated with the respective shelves 22, 24 and 21, are driven by a suitable means, not shown, and are adapted to remove filled cartons from the conveyors as has previously been described. v

For use in conjunction with the cartons adapted to contain thirty-six eggs we use the carton holder shown in Figures 8 and 12, which retain the carton in a handy elevated position in order to facilitate the placement of eggs therein by the operator. The container is adapted to be swung into a position immediately overlying the carry-away belt whereby the filled carton will be removed therefrom.

As referred to above, a counting mechanism is provided for counting the various eggs packed in the cartons and for this purpose a series of counting devices 82 are shown in Figures 2, 6 and 13,

being mounted below the shelf 22 and including numeral drums 83 mounted on respective supporting brackets 84 and adapted for viewing through the windows 86. A common drive shaft Ill (Figure 13) is provided for the various counting devices.

As each counting device is similar, only one will be described in detail. Each counting device is adapted for manual operation to count eggs individually and for automatic operation to count the eggs in units of dozens or a selected number of dozens, in the present instance, in units of three dozen.

The counting unit includes a ratchet wheel assembly including a thirty-six tooth contact operating ratchet 80, a thirty-six tooth ratchet 89 for manual counting, athree tooth ratchet 9| for counting in units of twelve. and a one tooth ratchet 92 for counting in units of three dozen. The ratchets are secured together in spaced relation and journaled about a stationary shaft 93 and urged by a friction drive to turn clockwise as viewed in Figure 15. The friction drive mechanism includes a friction disk 94 which engages the lower face of the ratchet 09, the parts being urged together by a three pronged spring mem- 6 her 96 secured on shaft 93 and engaging the upper face of the ratchet 89. The friction disk 94 is connected by collar 91 to a worm wheel 98 having a drive worm 99 associated therewith.

Of the above ratchet wheels, the ratchet 88 is an impulse or transmitting ratchet wheel having a spring urged pawl IOI cooperating therewith and also carrying a contact closing arm I02 associated'with the spring contact members I03 and having leads I04 extendin to a suitable counter.

The ratchets 89, 9| and 92 are escapement ratchets and are adapted for operation to cause escapement of the ratchet assembly for a given number of steps in accordance with a given number of eggs counted. The thirty-six tooth ratchet 89 is adapted for manual operation by means including an escapement pawl I96, Figure 15, pivoted at I01 and urged in a counterclockwise direction by spring I08. The tail I09 of the pawl I06 is engaged by the nose I II of a lever ||2 pivoted at I I3 to a pivotal link I M to provide a translational movement of the lever I I2. A spring I I 6 is connected to the lever II2 to urge it to the left as viewed in Figure 15 and into engagement with the tail I09 of the released pawl I06. A manual operatin plunger I I1 is slideably mounted in a square tube H8 and is held inactive by a compression spring II9 which maintains the enlarged end I2I of the plunger I'Il against the tube 'II8. Each depression of the manual operating plunger or key II'I willoperate the lever M2 to cause the pawl I00 to release the ratchet wheel 89 and consequently the ratchet Wheel 98, for one step of movement so that one impulse is supplied to the counter. The nose III of the lever II2 travels off the tail I09 of the pawl I09 and is restored to the position shown in Figure 15 upon release of the plunger III thus providing single stroke operation of the plunger I I 1.

For automatic operation of the ratchet wheels a solenoid I22, Figures 14 and 17, is provided which is operated by one ofthe sets of contact members 04 and I3, previously referred to, so that its armature I23 will be drawn within the solenoid and will operate the lever II2 through a link I24. Operation of the lever I I2 by the solenoid I 22 serves to disable the released pawl I06 for the single counting'ratchet 89. For this purpose a two-armed gravity latch I26 is provided with one arm I27 operable by a plunger 'I2I and a second arm I28 positioned for cooperation with a -pin I-29 onthe tail I09 of the pawl I96. The arm I 29 drops into latching engagement with the pin I29 upon operation of the lever II 2 by the solenoid I 22 and remains in this position until the plunger I I1 is operated to perform a single count. When the' plunger I I1 is again operated to perform a single count, plunger I2 I engages the arm I2'I of the latch I29 to move the arm I28 of the latch from engagement with the pin I29 so that the pawl II9 can again engage the ratchet key 89.

To' provide for operation in counting the eggs in dozen lots with the three-tooth ratchet 9| a second pawl I3I, Figure 15, is pivoted to the shaft I01 and adapted for abutting relation with a pm I 44 on the pawl I09, the pawl I06 also serving as the operating means to release the pawl I 3| from engagement with the associated tooth I32 of the ratchet 9|. The pawl ,I3I as shown in Figure 15 is in operative relation with the ratchet 9|, this condition being provided for by the positioning of a manually settable control including the eccentric I33 on a rod I34 having a pointer shaped handle I36 and journaled in spaced bearaeeogsoi 7 ings 137. Then-eccentric I33 cooperates with a, :lateral ly extendingran'd depending finger I38 of the-pawl i3! toallow the pawl inzthe position shown in Figure to engage the ratchet 9| under theini'iuence of its springtIBii. ,If' the handle I36 is-turned 'from the position shown in Figure '5, clockwise to alignmentwith theindicia --36, the eccentric I33, Figure 15, is-turned' from the position shown to that shown inFigure 16 where the pawl I3I has been moved to its inactive position.

To enable counting in units of thirty-six eggs, theratchet-QZ is provided with a single tooth MI cooperating-with the pawl I42, also pivoted on the shaft I31 and having an associated spring ;-I-43 which serves toengage the pawl I42 with the ratchet '92. The-pin I44 onthepawl I95 also underlies the pawlMZ-to operate thispawl upon energization-of the solenoid I22.

From the above description it will be apparent that the ratchet assembly can be conditioned for automatic counting under control of the solenoid I22 in either units of one dozen or three'dozen by appropriate setting-of the control handle I35 so that when the lever H2 is operated'by the solenoid I 22 its nose I I I-will engage theZtail-IM of thepawl lfldand, through the pawl-I85 and its pin M4, release either the pawl I3I from its ratchet 9!, 'or the pawl I42 from itsratc-het '92. ItwilLbe-noted that whenever thesolenoid I22 is operated to initiate an automatic count, the pawlI-fifi becomes latched in inactive position after the initial-operation by the lever-I I2 until it is again released by virtue of another manual count by operation of the manual counting plunger I I1.

Fromzthe foregoing it will be'obvious that we have invented adevice bywh-ich eggs 'maybe counted in either numbers of one or three dozens, the counting being accompiishedeither manually or automatically, depending-upon thewish of-the operator. If the-counting is to be 'done automatically, the-movementofa carton of eggs from the packagingzposition -to the carryaway position-overlying the conveyorbelt will,-either through. the contact 14 or the contact 64 actuate the solenoid 122. Manual operation is accomplishedby actuation-of the plunger Ill.

.The operation of theegg handling -maehine of our-invention maybe briefly summarized as follows:

As previously explained, the eggs are discharged :into the bin I2 at the'candling and packaging-station as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The various sizes of eggs areseparately'graded according-to quality and are .placed in egg holding-cartonssuch as shownat42 in Figured or at 43 in Figure 6. If the eggsare being packed inthecartons adapted to accommodate a dozen eggs, thecartons lZrnay beemployed as shown in Figure 10. When the carton'is filled it is slid to the right, as viewed in Figure .10, past the count tripping arm I4 for the dozen countingratchet of the counting mechanism and onto the conveyor 29 for disposal in the usualmanner to another portion of the plant for further operations.

If the eggs are being packed incartons adapted tocontain thirty-six eggs, thecartons \may be positionedas shown,.for example, in Figures 8 or .12. If automatic counting is desired, the holder .as illustrated in'Figure 8 maybe employed, so that the carton is .transferredto the conveyor 29' by the downward tipping of the carton holder r-23; -whereuponthe three dozen count ratchet of. the counting 4 mechanism v is released.

It will be understood that the above quality grading operations may be performed with respecttoeach of :the sizes of eggs and that they will-be packed in appropriatecartons as pointed out above.

As the counting operation is performed, each particular quality in-size of egg is counted -on wthe particular counting drum 83 of the series shown in Figure 2 with the operation being controlled for "-dozen or three dozen counts as indicated by the setting of the pointer vI3I3=in Fig. *5. It will Joe-understood that where odd numbers-cf eggsare to be counted, the manually operable'control key'orbutton I'I'I is utilized for the counting operation.

We claim:

T1. In an egg-handling machine, an egg carton holder having a fiat bottom and one open side, a-outaway'portion .insaidibottom, a work table, a belt overlyingsaid work table, spring means normally holding said holder inspaced position abovesaidbelt with-the'cutaway portion of said bottom in alignment with said-belt, said holder being disposed with respect to said belt so that a carton is in said carton holder will engage said belt when the holder is allowed 'to engage said table, and independent means for driving said belt.

2. In an egg handlingmachine, an'egg carton holder-having a flat bottom and atleast one open side, a cutaway'portion in said bottom,-a worktable, means resiliently positioning said holder out of engagement with said work table-a continually driven fiat belt passing over said table, said holder being disposed with respect to said conveyor whereby when :the carton holderengages said table said belt is disposed within the cutaway portion of the bottom of said holder and above vthe upperplane of said flat bottom so that a carton therein will be moved out ofthe open side of said-holder, and driving means associated'with said belt independentof-the operation of said holder.

3. In-an-egg-handling. machine, an-eggcarton holder having a cutaway bottom and an open side,a conveyor. adjacent said holder, and means providing a pivotal mounting for saidholder in inclined position and resiliently positioning said holder normally out of engagement with said conveyor, said holder being disposed with respect to said conveyor for movement to engage a carton vwithin the conveyor so that the carton will be moved out of the open side of said holder, and means forcontinually driving said conveyor independent of the operation or position of-said eggcarton holder.

ROBERT C. SNEE-D.

\CURTIS S. JORDAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Number Name Date 870,521 Pe'ck Nov. 5, 1907 905,043 Anderson Nov. 24, 1908 1,003,295 Rodman l 'Sept'l2, 1911 11,447,629 Ramsey Mar. '6, 1923 1,613,552 Armstrong Jan. 4, 1927 i FOREIGN PATENTS Number I Country Date 749,937 France Aug. 1, 1933 

